Gravende heiwerker c. 1884 - 1887

"Gravende heiwerker" (c. 1884-1887) is a charcoal drawing by Willem Witsen, depicting a worker digging with a shovel. The drawing is part of the Rijksmuseum collection. The artist's dynamic composition, rendered in quick, loose strokes, captures the physical exertion of the laborer. This work exemplifies Witsen's realist approach to art, exploring the lives of ordinary people and their working-class struggles. The sketch's raw energy and focus on the subject's labor highlight the artist's interest in capturing the reality of everyday life in a dramatic way.